Brain Damage - 18 Miler
No seriously, it was.
Just recently I had to mix up my Training Schedule. I can now only Run Long on Saturdays if it's after 9:30am. That kicks me out of The Ladies meet ups. What's left are Sunday Long Runs... which coincidentally hooks me back up with the Fab5, if their Ironman Training Schedule works with mine. Sad to leave one group, but happy to have a reunion (The band's back together again!) with the other.
This past weekend I had 18 Miles... So, after reaching out to Fab5 I realized with some amazing time management and planning, I could meet up with them on Saturday for at least 10 Miles after their 60 Mile Ride.
Timing had to be perfect. I'd Run 8 Miles solo, finishing just as they dismount their bikes (and change, and load the bikes up, and load up their fuel belts, and chat about the ride, and... you get it).
We could do this... and well, truth be told: I REALLY didn't want to run 18 Miles... and I REALLY, REALLY wouldn't be motivated doing it solo. So it was with forced optimism, that we planned the meet up thinking everything would fall into place, no problem.
The next day emails flew. Coordination was complete. And we planned to meet at 10:30am on Aliso Creek trail - their home base with the cars. Me: Already done with 8 Miles, ready for the last portion. Them: Finished with 60 Miles on the bike, ready for the Brick. Either way, both parties ready to push off for the last 10 Miles together.
Not wanting to hold them up, I stressed about "perfecting" my time so I wouldn't be late. I'd hate to have them wait on me. And truthfully, there would be nothing I could do if my 8 Miler ran over. So, 9:00am I drove to home base, saw their cars and pushed off for my portion of the workout.
2 Miles north on the trail. 2 Miles back... past the cars... 2 Miles south on the trail... 2 Miles back to the cars.
As I approached the cars on my last mile, I get a text from Event Whore: "Running late, will be there by 11:30." At first I thought it was a joke and I'd come up to the cars and find them all hiding in the bushes just to mess with me. But, no. It was the truth, they weren't going to be there for another hour.
What's a girl to do, but continue Running.
So I head out to repeat my previous path: 2 Miles north on the trail. 2 Miles back... past the cars... 2 Miles south on the trail... 2 Miles back to the cars.
Approaching the cars (yet, again) I realized, "Sh*t! They are still out on the road!"
Back out I went for 1/2 Mile hoping 1) that would be enough time to allow Fab5 to roll up to home base 2) that wouldn't be too much time that I'd miss them and they'd hit the trail without me.
I approached the cars a 5th time, hoping to not have the mind blowing experience of doing smaller crazy eights til they arrived. Thankfully they were there! As is the case with Long Rides/Runs you just can't accurately predict how long you'll be out on the road. One flat tire can throw you off... But the problem now was: I now only needed to run 3 Miles to complete my workout, blowing the original plan to Run 10 together.
At the end of the day I was thankful to Run with the group, even if it was for only 1 1/2 Miles. (Even more thankful we grabbed a beer post workout!) I'm sure it was a good experience for me, Running 15 Miles in a challenging/boring short course, but I hope to never have to do it again!
Then again, I'm coordinating my Long Run with the Fab5 again this weekend... so who knows!
Just recently I had to mix up my Training Schedule. I can now only Run Long on Saturdays if it's after 9:30am. That kicks me out of The Ladies meet ups. What's left are Sunday Long Runs... which coincidentally hooks me back up with the Fab5, if their Ironman Training Schedule works with mine. Sad to leave one group, but happy to have a reunion (The band's back together again!) with the other.
This past weekend I had 18 Miles... So, after reaching out to Fab5 I realized with some amazing time management and planning, I could meet up with them on Saturday for at least 10 Miles after their 60 Mile Ride.
Timing had to be perfect. I'd Run 8 Miles solo, finishing just as they dismount their bikes (and change, and load the bikes up, and load up their fuel belts, and chat about the ride, and... you get it).
We could do this... and well, truth be told: I REALLY didn't want to run 18 Miles... and I REALLY, REALLY wouldn't be motivated doing it solo. So it was with forced optimism, that we planned the meet up thinking everything would fall into place, no problem.
The next day emails flew. Coordination was complete. And we planned to meet at 10:30am on Aliso Creek trail - their home base with the cars. Me: Already done with 8 Miles, ready for the last portion. Them: Finished with 60 Miles on the bike, ready for the Brick. Either way, both parties ready to push off for the last 10 Miles together.
Not wanting to hold them up, I stressed about "perfecting" my time so I wouldn't be late. I'd hate to have them wait on me. And truthfully, there would be nothing I could do if my 8 Miler ran over. So, 9:00am I drove to home base, saw their cars and pushed off for my portion of the workout.
2 Miles north on the trail. 2 Miles back... past the cars... 2 Miles south on the trail... 2 Miles back to the cars.
As I approached the cars on my last mile, I get a text from Event Whore: "Running late, will be there by 11:30." At first I thought it was a joke and I'd come up to the cars and find them all hiding in the bushes just to mess with me. But, no. It was the truth, they weren't going to be there for another hour.
What's a girl to do, but continue Running.
So I head out to repeat my previous path: 2 Miles north on the trail. 2 Miles back... past the cars... 2 Miles south on the trail... 2 Miles back to the cars.
Approaching the cars (yet, again) I realized, "Sh*t! They are still out on the road!"
Back out I went for 1/2 Mile hoping 1) that would be enough time to allow Fab5 to roll up to home base 2) that wouldn't be too much time that I'd miss them and they'd hit the trail without me.
I approached the cars a 5th time, hoping to not have the mind blowing experience of doing smaller crazy eights til they arrived. Thankfully they were there! As is the case with Long Rides/Runs you just can't accurately predict how long you'll be out on the road. One flat tire can throw you off... But the problem now was: I now only needed to run 3 Miles to complete my workout, blowing the original plan to Run 10 together.
At the end of the day I was thankful to Run with the group, even if it was for only 1 1/2 Miles. (Even more thankful we grabbed a beer post workout!) I'm sure it was a good experience for me, Running 15 Miles in a challenging/boring short course, but I hope to never have to do it again!
Then again, I'm coordinating my Long Run with the Fab5 again this weekend... so who knows!
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